This is page numbers 6965 - 7000 of the Hansard for the 16th Assembly, 6th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was assembly.

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize some of our representatives that have been working on behalf of the Status of Women Council: Lorraine Phaneuf, Annemieke Mulders, and Samantha Dechief.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would also like to recognize the representatives from the Status of Women Council behind me. Lorraine Phaneuf is the executive director of the Status Council, Annemieke Mulders is the programs and research manager, and Samantha Dechief is the community development coordinator. I would also like to recognize a constituent of mine. I presume he’s still up there. Mr. Doug Rentmeister is the executive director of Sport North and a constituent of Frame Lake. Last but not least, I’d like to recognize Ms. Amber O’Reilly, who has been my constituency assistant filling in as a summer student. She’ll be heading off to school tomorrow. Best of luck, Amber, and thanks for your service.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The honourable Member for Monfwi, Mr. Lafferty.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pleasure to recognize my parents, Maurice and Dora Marie Lafferty are here with us today. They’re big supporters of mine. And also my auntie Therese Jeremick’a that’s here with us, my uncle Freddie Lafferty, my uncle Jimmy

Mantla, and also my sister-in-law Missy Mantla. I’d also like to recognize a Page as well: Shania Clark, aka Clarkie, and that she’s Lucy Rabesca’s daughter, originally from Behchoko. I’d just like to say mahsi for all the services that they provide. Mahsi.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Jacobson.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to welcome my two daughters here, Kirstin and Mikayla, that are with me here in Yellowknife.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. The honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. Robert McLeod.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to recognize my wife and my best friend, Judy. Welcome to the gallery.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s my pleasure today to recognize in the gallery, as I mentioned in my Member’s statement, my very long-serving constituency assistant Wendy Morgan, who is no longer a resident of Hay River South, I am sad to say. Hay River’s loss was Yellowknife’s gain, but she still is my assistant and I appreciate her very much. She is more than an assistant, she is my very good friend. I’d also like to recognize my husband, Rick, in the gallery tonight, who doesn’t often make it up here. We’ll be heading home tomorrow, honey. Get the campaign signs ready.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d also like to recognize residents of Weledeh, Loretta and Dick Abernethy. I’d also like to recognize Johanna Stewart, one of our Pages today, a resident of Weledeh, and really express my appreciation to all the Pages we’ve had throughout our four years.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize, once again, the two Pages from Yellowknife Centre. We have Emma Ouellette and Edward Esau. I certainly hope they’ve enjoyed their time here paging at the Assembly. I know many of us have appreciated their help and the services they provide. As well, we appreciate all the Pages and the work that they do, so I want to thank them personally.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. If we’ve missed anyone in the gallery today, welcome to the Chamber. I hope you’re enjoying the proceedings. It’s always nice to have an audience in here.

Item 7, acknowledgements. Item 8, oral questions. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are addressed to the Premier, the Minister responsible for the Executive. They are relative to the final report of the Coalition Against Family Violence, which was published on March 31st of this year. It was a result of about eight years of work.

The coalition was begun in 2003 and has been doing great work on behalf of our residents since then. They’re a group of 21 bodies, both NGOs and government.

There have been two action plans to date with regard to family violence, and the second phase will end in March of 2012. Phase three, a continuation of the Family Violence Acton Plan, is absolutely required. I’d like to ask the Premier, the Minister for the Executive, what action the Government of the Northwest Territories is taking to ensure that a phase three action plan will be planned for and funded following the end of the March 2012 period. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The honourable Premier, Mr. Roland.

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As we will be reaching the date of dissolution of the 16th Assembly, our work is going to be part of the

transition process so that the Members of the 17th Assembly can review the recommendations that have been put forward in the most recent report.

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

I didn’t hear the Minister say anything in the past tense. It sounded like it was all in the future. I’d like to ask the Minister, since that report was published on March 31, 2011, has there been any action on the part of the government to start dealing with the 19 recommendations which are included in that report. Thank you.

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

The departments of Justice and Health and Social Services have been reviewing that work and are trying to make things happen through our Building Our Future Strategic Initiative Committee. But again, the next process and business plan cycle will have to go through the 17th Assembly.

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Thanks to the Minister. He leads me right into my next question. Thank you for that.

It’s hard to believe, but I’m sure that staff are soon going to be developing the 2013 operations budget, and I mentioned there are 19 recommendations in

this report. I’d like to know, specific to three recommendations in the report which ask for core funding from the government, will these be considered by GNWT staff as the budget is developed, these three recommendations which ask for core funding.

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

As I have stated, the recommendations, 19 of them in all, will be reviewed by the 17th Assembly and they will have to

decide what they prioritize and would direct to actually be included in that business plan.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Your final supplementary, Ms. Bisaro.

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. From my perspective as a Member, if I’m not presented with options to fund these three specific recommendations with core funding, then I can’t vote on them. So I would ask the Minister to seriously consider adding core funding for those programs in the business plan.

Part of the report states the coalition has made great strides to shift attitudes and enhance services to reduce family violence and abuse, and I think it’s been an extremely valuable program. I’d like to know if the Minister can advise, at this point -- and I suspect I’ll get an answer that it’s up to the next Assembly -- but I’d like to know whether or not the Minister feels that the government is committed to following up on the good work that’s been done and making sure that there is a phase three to continue this good work after March of 2012. Thank you.